THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 27, 1996 TAG: 9608270264
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 43 lines
Under fire from community members, Mayor Paul Fraim and two city councilmen pledged Monday night to find the $3 million needed to enlarge and renovate the dilapidated gym at Granby High School.
The gym would be part of a $25-million-plus plan to expand and overhaul the school, described as the most expensive school project in city history.
``We just need to roll up our sleeves and go to work and find a way to build this gym,'' said Fraim, who addressed about 50 residents attending a meeting on the Granby construction project.
``If we're going to have a state-of-the-art high school, then we ought to have a gym that would suit that facility. We've always found a way to do these projects before, and my belief is we'll find a way again.''
Councilmen Randy Wright and Mason Andrews also voiced support for funding the gym.
A two-year renovation of the 57-year-old high school began last month. But school district officials said they had to eliminate the gym from the building contract, citing a $4 million shortfall between the $25 million bid and the $21 million the School Board had to pay.
Angry members of the school's PTA, the alumni association and business and civic leaders have lobbied City Council aggressively for the additional money. The council funds the school district's operating and capital budgets.
During the past two weeks, a fund-raising effort organized by the Greater Wards Corner Business Association has generated about $2,300, said president Eloise Myers.
Monday's announcement of support from three of the council's seven members was encouraging news, Myers said.
``I don't say it's a done deal, but it sounds good,'' Myers said.
Fraim and Wright said council had honored every request school officials made for Granby funding, but the amount kept escalating - from $10 million several years ago to $25 million. They stressed a need for accountability on how the money is spent.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK SCHOOLS GRANBY HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATION GYM
NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL by CNB